Chinese government inspectors ferreted out fake farming materials and equipment worth an estimated 341 million yuan (US$43.7 million) in the first three months of the year, according to sources with the Ministry of Agriculture.

The materials included 10.5 million kilograms of poor-quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers as well as 17,040 shoddy pieces of farming equipment.

A total of 8,029 cases ended in prosecution and 496 clandestine workshops were smashed.

The campaign covered 167,000 producers of farming materials and tools and 58,660 local markets.